Make-A-Wish Children to Experience Vermont Summer Festival

Children from the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Vermont will attend the Vermont Summer Festival on Saturday, August 13, to experience show jumping and meet grand prix riders and their horses. The Vermont Summer Festival runs for six consecutive weeks, from July 5 through August 14, at Harold Beebe Farm in East Dorset, VT.

As part of Make-A-Wish Vermont’s mission to strengthen and empower children battling life-threatening medical conditions, children will attend the $50,000 Vermont Summer Celebration Grand Prix at the Vermont Summer Festival.

“We receive many wishes that include interactions with horses, so this is going to be a special day for a lot of our children,” said Casey McMorrow, Manager of Communications and Development for Make-A-Wish Vermont in Burlington, VT. “We are very proud to be working with the Vermont Summer Festival to give our Make-A-Wish children the opportunity to meet riders, experience a horse show, and see these beautiful, graceful animals up close.”

The day's festivities will honor the children of Make-A-Wish Vermont and include a course walk, meet and greet, and autograph signing with the top grand prix riders of the Vermont Summer Festival. Children will also be introduced prior to the start of the grand prix and have a photo opportunity with a competing horse.

“It's an honor to be able to partner with Make-A-Wish Vermont on this event,” said Ruth Lacey, Marketing Director for the Vermont Summer Festival. “So many of us learned to love horses as children, and these kids are no exception. We are thrilled that they will be able to be ‘up close and personal’ with the horses.”

Make-A-Wish Vermont has served a unique and vital role in granting 700 wishes to Vermont children with life-threatening medical conditions over the last 25 years. They believe that a wish experience can be a game-changer. This one belief guides the organization in everything they do and inspires them to grant wishes that change the lives of the kids they serve.

The Make-A-Wish children who will attend the Vermont Summer Festival include:

- Wish Kid Amanda Ferris, 13, and Wish Mom Amy Ferris.

- Wish Kid Shannon Watson, 10, and Wish Mom Shannon Watson.

- Wish Kid Leah Barber, 4, Wish Mom Ashley Barber, and Wish Dad Keith Rowe.

To find out more about the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Vermont, click here.

Media interested in attending the Vermont Summer Festival on Saturday, August 13, are asked to contact Ruth Lacey at 802-224-6978.

For over 20 years, the Vermont Summer Festival has attracted exhibitors and their families to the Manchester region in southern Vermont for great competition in an ideal summer setting. Outside the show ring, exhibitors enjoy the charm of Vermont's shopping, dining, and outdoor activities.

The final week of competition at the Vermont Summer Festival concludes on Sunday, August 14. Admission is $6 for adults and $3 for children from Wednesday through Friday beginning at 8 a.m.  On Saturday and Sunday, admission is $9 for adults and $5 for children with 100% of all gate proceeds benefiting the Manchester Community Library, Dorset Equine Rescue, and Meals on Wheels.

Please e-mail or visit www.vt-summerfestival.com for more information about the Vermont Summer Festival.